Can you tell me about Stevie Wonder

A.� Although less prolific, and certainly less commercially successful in recent times, Stevie Wonder's legacy of recorded work is a testament to a writer and social commentator of rare talent and commitment.

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Q.� Was he a child star

A.� He was, 'Little' Stevie Wonder, billed for his precocious talent as a musician, he was an accomplished harmonica player and drummer by the time he made his recording debut at the age of eleven, Steveland Morris (sometimes known as Steveland Judkins) was born in Michigan in May 1950. His talent was picked up by the burgeoning Tamla Motown Records and Wonder's hugely successful recording career proved to be lucrative for both parties.

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Q.� What's the secret of his success

A.� Stevie Wonder was one of the first major recording artists to realise the potential of artistic freedom. Using his selling power, Wonder re-negotiated his record contract with Motown, giving him artistic freedom over his future output, and assuring him of a level of financial security commensurate with his proven ability to provide a string of hit singles and albums for the label.� Musically, Wonder's musicianship is of the highest calibre, in particular his harmonica playing which has enhanced both his own, and a number of other artists' recordings.

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His song writing reputation appears to be based on an unfailing sense of optimism and an acute sense of popular musical dynamics, but no one should overlook Wonder's deep commitment to social commentary, which provided a soundtrack to the increasing emancipation of black Americans throughout the 1970's. Along with Marvin Gaye, Wonder deserves credit for his ability to address serious social issues through the medium of hit singles, as evidenced by songs such as Living For The City and� Village Ghetto Land. The power and imagery of Pastime Paradise provided a springboard sample for Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise hit some years after the original.

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Q.� Did Stevie Wonder always maintain a high calibre of material

A.� Sadly not, Even though he can rightly claim to be a major social commentator, Wonder is far from immune to sentiment, which can often descend into out and out schmaltz�- particularly his pseudo-social racism commentary in his duet with Paul McCartney on the twee Ebony And Ivory. The vacuous metaphor of a keyboard layout as an example of racial harmony represents a mutual nadir in the writing ability of two of pop's greatest songwriters. Similarly, Wonder's�biggest selling single I Just Called To Say I Love You, which won an Oscar as part of the Woman In Red film soundtrack in 1984 is regarded by many fans as one of the weakest songs in his repertoire, especially when compared with the punchy and vibrant You Haven't Done Nothin' which enjoys the rare privilege of employing fellow Motown legends The Jackson Five as backing singers.

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Q.� What would be the best representation of Stevie Wonder's work

A.� It's generally acknowledged that Wonder released seven consecutive classic albums, from Music Of My Mind through to Hotter Than July. The first album of the series was the first to break out of the trend of producing albums comprising a couple of hit singles and some filler, and use the album format to provide a series of songs concentrating on Wonder's passions for social enhancement and improvement. Wonder was a passionate advocate of peaceful protest�- he campaigned tirelessly to bring formal recognition to the work of Martin Luther King, resulting in the formal declaration of King's birthday as a national holiday, and a hit single, Happy Birthday.

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Q.� Is it true that Wonder's best years are behind him now

A.� Commercially that is certainly true. Because of his increasingly experimental musical direction, Wonder's status as a guaranteed purveyor of hit singles has waned somewhat in the latter years of his career, although as a winner of 17 Grammy awards, Wonder is probably not unduly troubled by his absence from the pop charts.

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Q.� What sort of influence has Stevie Wonder had on pop music

A.� With his ground-breaking approach to mixing social commentary with popular music, Wonder has provided a blueprint for soul and r 'n' b music that lives on today, even if his own particular commercially successful career appears to be behind him now. The current crop of rap and r'n'b stars can be said to owe a huge debt to Wonder for his initial impetus in the musical emancipation of black musicians and writers. Musically, Wonder's influence casts a log shadow�- bands such as Jamiroquai have based their sound vocally and instrumentally almost exclusively on Wonder's output from his Talking Book and Innervisions era.

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Q.� When is there likely to be some new Stevie Wonder material

A.� It is a number of years since Stevie Wonder released any new songs.�It does appear that he is taking life much easier now, enjoying his family and taking time out from his long and important career to rest and enjoy life as a husband and father.

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